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Applying an Update

CAUTION

Within the Export-It application there are two versions of concern, the database version versus the version of executables.  These two versions must be the same for proper operation!  Should a program of a version that does not match that of the database attempt to enter data into, or change, any EDI document then the database could become corrupted.  This means that an update to a new version must update all application modules on all platforms that have the application installed and also update the database format the first time that it executes.  For greater understanding of these versions see Export-It Versions.

Download Proper Update "installer" Based on Current Version

Example "Version.dat" file
[VERSIONS]
current_305_version=W-24a
current_7_version=v7.3W-24a
current_email_version=v7.3W-24a

Each Syscob update is applied by an "installer" program that will update an installation that is presently in a specified range of versions.  A Syscob base version consists of a letter, a dash and two digits (e.g. “A-28”) which may be followed by an optional sub-version (like “Y-26a1”) and which may have an optional DataFlex version prepended (i.e. “v7.3W-24a”). The current version for an installation can be found in the "Version.dat" file in the "DATA" subfolder of the Database "server" Folder.  This is a text file that can be read by Notepad or any text editor.  An example of the content of a "Version.dat" file is provided at the right.

Update "installers" can be found on the Syscob web site (http://www.syscob.com.au).  Each "updater" is identified by the version it will update to and the range of versions which it can update from.  For example:

Update to version Y-26a1 from any
version of W-24, X-25 (e.g. W-24a or X-25a) or Y-26

After identifying the updater that will apply to the existing version for your installation download the update "installer" program.  It will have a name like "EPW24_Y26a1.EXE" (which is the updater with the description given in the example above).  Save this file—do not run it from the web—in a location where all platforms [computers] that have the Export-It application installed can access it.

Run the Update "installer" on Every Platform [computer]

When the installation topology has more than one machine with the application installed then it is absolutely critical that all platforms [computers] be updated in a single operation.  Before starting the update process ensure that the following conditions are met:

In other words, an application must be updated while no one is using it and all machines with the application must be updated in a single group of operations.  As it typically takes only a couple of minutes to update a platform, excluding the first one when the database format is updated (which may add 2 or 3 minutes), the entire process does not take long.  For example, at a site with Export-It installed on four (4) machines an update of all of them should only require about 10 minutes.  However, Syscob still recommends that an update be performed during “off hours” (e.g. after close-of-business, before start-of-business or over a weekend) so as not to interfere with users access to the application.


For each platform that has Export-It installed an update "installer" must be executed under the logon of a user which runs the application.  Since it will update the platform [computer], not just that user, the new programs installed will apply to all users of the application that logon to that platform.  To apply an update on a platform follow these instructions:

  1. Run the Export-It "updater" program.
  2. On the Welcome! page press the "Next >" button.
  3. For a “stand-alone” topology on the Select Destination Drive page select the drive letter used by the application then press the "Next >" button.
     
    For a “networked” topology verify the Found Workstation Drive has the drive letter of the Platform "local" Drive and the Found Server Drive has the drive letter of the Database "server" Drive then press the "Next >" button.
  4. If the updater cannot identify the current version, as when the "Version.dat" file has been deleted (see Notes below), then an "Undetermined Version of Export-It" dialog will appear.  It will show what versions the updater would apply to and await a decision on whether to continue or not.  Press the "Yes" button to apply the update only if certain that it is applicable.  Answer with the "No" button to abort if you are not certain.
  5. If the updater cannot apply to the current version a "Wrong Version of Export-It" dialog will appear.  It will show what versions the updater could apply to and the current version of the system.  Answer the dialog with the "OK" button to abort the update.
  6. When the update "installer" can update the existing version a progress dialog will show the progress of the program updates.
  7. If this is the first platform on which the "Export-It for Windows Updater Program" is run then an "Output Window" dialog will appear with a database update log scrolling in a pane of the window.  After the database format update has been completed this window will close automatically.
     
    WARNING: If the database format update process is aborted or the machine fails during this part of the update then the system is not usable.  See the Notes below for recovery.
  8. On the Update Completed! page press the "Finish" button.

If additional platforms remain to be updated then repeat the steps above on each machine.  When the last computer with the application installed has been updated then the update process for this version has been completed.

Notes

 

See also:

Database Folder Backup

Installation Topology

Database "server" Drive

Platform "local" Drive